Is lockers worth buying if only mild offroading?

[SR.GRINGO]

You're not making a mistake. Get the LX 450 you're looking at. Don't sweat not having lockers.

Listen to Doug You can always add the arb's in the future.

 

[PKP80]

I've been running unlocked for quite sometime. I think that it's a different style of driving when you have lockers and when you don't. The skinny pedal is a closer friend to an unlocked rig, but you have to be real careful how much you give it. On the upside of lacking lockers, my eye and ablity for picking my lines on the more technical parts of the trail has greatly improved.

my $0.02

-Sam-

 

[paulphilly]

Alot of great thoughts from everyone, and as a newbie, all opinions are really appreciated. Well, not to throw a wrench into the mix, BUT, today I got a call from a friend who knows a friend (or however it goes) who has a 96' cruiser with only 80K miles and locked. He states that he will take $11K cash. The vehicle is in immaculate condition. So, should I hop all over this deal or still get the 97' lx450 with 42K miles for $22K?? I also found a 96' lx450 with only 67K miles and in "like new" condition for $16.5K which is a great deal. Both lx450's are unlocked and both are in like new condition. But, the 96' cruiser is in very, very good condition and is locked for only 11K. Am I correct in assuming that most of you are nodding your heads right now going "get the 96' cruiser with lockers you fool?? It is a heck of a deal and I might get both. Dont know yet. Maybe one for weekdays and one for wheelin' on the weekends....yeeeeeehahhhhhh

 

[NorCalDoug]

Given the 3 choices, I would rank them in the following order:

1 - 96 locked LC for $11k
2 - 96 unlocked LX for $16.5k
3 - 97 unlocked LX for $22k

The miles are low enough, IMO that it's not really a factor...
Be sure to check out over all condition, maintenance records, etc. for all 3. The LXs should be easy enough to check up on. Any Lexus dealership should be able to run the VIN and provide a service report for you (for all service that a Lexus dealership would've provided.

I've said this before...get the 80 in the best condition, with the lowest miles, for the best price. Lockers are a plus...but if the rig with lockers is thrashed, I'd pass on it.

 

[e9999]

you can see the opinions are divided so it's a close call.
I would also say that for mild offroading you'd be better off with a good engine than with lockers. Stuff can be added easily, a worn engine is hard to fix.
I love my lockers but would I really need them for mild trails? Nope. Went some places with just the CD locked and was surprised it went.
But the locked 96 for 11K could be a good deal.

 

[thorvald]

if the locked 96's in good shape, go for it

 

[firetruck41]

If you don't buy the 96 locked LC, please pass the info on , as that seems like a pretty smokin' deal if it is in really good condition.

 

[Riad]

well, my 2 cents. Lockers are always good to have no matter what. In some case lockers can save you from sliding and resulting into rolling over dependeing upon the situation. However, a low mileage LX450 without any locker is just the thing you want. ARBs are always there for you when ever you are ready, even detroit. So go get it, wheel it mild, and when you learn how this beast behaves over time, go get the lockers.

 

[Heffenoche]

As others have said you don't need them for your current intended use. However if you continue to hang around cruiserheads on this forum or worse join a cruiser club, you will likely get more into wheeling your cruiser and want the lockers. So if you buy one without lockers stay away from clubs and forums like this and you will be fine.

In order I agree with NorCalDoug as long as all three were equally well maintained.

 

[Bear80]

Buy both the '96 LC and the LX450. Swap font and rear axles so you have the locker inthe LX450, sell the '96. You'll fork up more up front for both but after you sale the LC you'll brake even.

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

Posted by Riad
well, my 2 cents. Lockers are always good to have no matter what. In some case lockers can save you from sliding and resulting into rolling over dependeing upon the situation. However, a low mileage LX450 without any locker is just the thing you want. ARBs are always there for you when ever you are ready, even detroit. So go get it, wheel it mild, and when you learn how this beast behaves over time, go get the lockers.

Ditto! I agree with Riad. A low mileage LX450 is much better than a locked LC without proper engine maintenance and if it trashed then you will spend more money in the end. Mine is unlocked and I can still go mild offroading without a problem, it is only in the driver's skill and driving technique.

Posted by Bear80
Buy both the '96 LC and the LX450. Swap font and rear axles so you have the locker inthe LX450, sell the '96. You'll fork up more up front for both but after you sale the LC you'll brake even.

Now if I would like to add the OEM lockers, this is what I would like to do. Buy me a locked LC and swapped axles with all the electronics and wirings required to lock an unlock 80 Series Cruiser. Then sell the donor vehicle. Get the low mileage LX 450 and you will love it plus you will surely get some pink panties in there. Mine has only 37XXX miles and very young. Just my .02 cents

 

[paulphilly]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Both 97' model 450's are in Perfect (not even exagerating) condition. One has 42K miles and the other 67K. BUT, the 96' Cruiser has only 80K miles w/lockers and is in damn near perfect condition itself. It is a 1 owner vehicle traded in for a new Lexus and was garaged kept and maticulously maintained (I checked with the dealership). So, for $11K, I feel like its really worth the extra 38K+23K additional mile difference over the 2 Lexus vehicles. Yes, its a year older also, but I dont think thats a big deal. Considering the 96' is $5K and $10K cheaper than both 450's respectively, I think its not really an issue with the 96' having extra miles and being a year older. Besides, just think what all that extra money can do for me---complete flush and refill of all fluids (including rad), OEM lift and tires, ARB bumper + winch, etc....So, to me, it seems logical to get the 96' which is locked and will be outfitted to my liking (dang, I think I just talked myself into the 96' . If anyone is interested in the other 450's, let me know and I can relay the info.

 

[firetruck41]

Good Choice! 40k miles is nothing when you consider your rig will be around for 300-350k mi plus, especially when you could save 10k or more.

 

[TeeTee]

Paul,
I am in the market for an LX. Can you kindly drop me a line?

Thanks,

TeeTee

 

[Godzilla FJ80]

I went through this same thing when looking for my FJ80. I ended up with a one-owner 97 LX450 with 79k miles and lockers - previous owner was a soccer mom no less. I stuck it out looking for one just like this, turned away from plenty of nice trucks I assure you. But 2 things factored in for me:

1. My own "mild" off-road experience, getting stuck with open diffs.
2. Something an old fart with plenty of experience said to me: "having lockers is like having a spare tire, or a handgun. It's better to NOT need one and have it, then to need it and NOT have it."

So there's my low-rent Zen for the day...

Death to Mothra

 

[Rookie2]

I would be suspicuous of a 8 year old year vehicle with only 42k on it. Either it's been sitting in a body shop a lot, lots of short trips, or sitting in the garage a lot. Any way you shake it..., a lot of sit'n, which ain't that good.

...but that's just me.

Put the extra money in your pocket and snag the locked 96 LC, before your friend who knows a friend, knows another friend who's friend snags it.


Rookie2

 

[nyk438]

Use my theory, momentum the poor man's locker

If your doing mild wheeling and you've found a rig in pristine cond. but no lockers, get it. Lockers are good and everything but you'll spend more money fixing thigns on a poor maintained cruiser with lockers. Might even cost you more to fix a bad maintained cruiser than to just throw in arbs or detroits.

 

[Godzilla FJ80]

I agree with most of the things being said here. If you find a nice truck without, go ahead and snag it. Is this truck really THE ONE you want?

My view might be unusual because I really have patience when it comes to making big purchases like cars, big screen TV's, stereo equipment, computers, really anything over $1,000 I do ALOT of research. I looked every day for almost 4 months before my particular truck showed up in the Dallas newspaper. They had a long key scratch on the passenger side of the vehicle ( I mean long - probably 5 feet across both doors - it's still there ) and I picked up the car for a song because of that flaw. Knowing that I was gonna do some wheeling in this thing, I didn't care. Meanwhile, she was the original owner and had the car dealer serviced. This woman had every record for every oil/fluid change!

By waiting, I got the EXACT truck I wanted. Anytime I'm in a rush to buy something I need to take a look at that urgency and determine whether or not it's valid. When making a big purchase I simply hate the idea of compromising what I really want. Patience is always the answer for that; "I'll find exactly what I want if I'm just patient and keep looking"

You may now all verbally kick me in the balls for writing such a long post.

Death to Mothra!

 

[firetruck41]

My first FZJ80 didn't have lockers, I loved it but always regretted not getting one with lockers, this time I made it a requirement, though I was tempted to get one w/out, I stuck it out and got a gret rig w/locker for the same or less $$$ than the unlocked ones I saw. I feel like now I can keep this one for a long time and have a really good base to (slowly) modify it.

 

[peebles24]

My 91 didn't even have the option of lockers, so I don't have any. I have done some moderate off roading and never had a problem I didn't even air down my Xterrains (35 PSI). Ok I had one problem, I tried to cross a tree in the creek and got high centered, lockers wouldn't have helped, 2.5 inches of lift would have though.

To tell you the truth I don't know what I would have to run across to need lockers, these 80 are extremely capable.